• AMPYRA Shown to Provide Clinically Meaningful Improvement
in Walking for People with Multiple Sclerosis Regardless of
Baseline Walking Speed or EDSS Score

HAWTHORNE, N.Y., Apr 11, 2011 -- Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ACOR) today announced data analyses showing that people
with multiple sclerosis (MS) who responded to AMPYRA(TM)
(dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg had comparable
improvements in their walking regardless of baseline walking speed
or overall level of MS-related disability1. In addition, AMPYRA
responders, regardless of baseline disability, showed clinically
meaningful improvement on the 12-Item MS Walking Scale (MSWS-12), a
patient-based questionnaire that measures the impact of MS on the
patient's reported ability to perform daily activities related to
walking. These and other post hoc analyses of AMPYRA clinical trial
and extension study data will be presented at the 63rd American
Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting being held April 9-16 in
Honolulu, Hawaii.

"Walking impairment is one of the most common and serious
functional deficits caused by MS, but often people with MS and
their physicians do not discuss walking issues until the level of
impairment is severe," said Ron Cohen, M.D., Acorda's President and
CEO. "These new analyses of our clinical data highlight that people
with MS can experience a meaningful benefit with AMPYRA across all
degrees of walking impairment. This also applies to patients with
walking difficulties that may be less obvious and not immediately
appreciated by others."

A Timed Walk responder was defined as a person who walked faster
on at least three of four on-treatment assessments compared to the
fastest of five off-treatment assessments as measured by the T25FW.
When stratified by severity of EDSS score, both the rate of
response and the average percent improvement in walking speed among
AMPYRA Timed Walk responders were comparable across the five
subgroups and were consistently greater than changes in both AMPYRA
non-responders and patients receiving placebo.

A separate analysis of pooled data from two placebo-controlled
AMPYRA Phase 3 clinical trials demonstrated that AMPYRA responders
transitioning from the placebo-controlled trials into open-label
studies experienced a rapid loss of walking improvement after
discontinuing therapy during the transition period2. Re-initiation
of therapy resulted in recovery of walking speed improvement among
previous responders by the first open-label study visit, which
occurred 2 weeks after restarting treatment. The average walking
speed improvement among responders was 27.7% from baseline at the
conclusion of the placebo-controlled trials; after withdrawal from
therapy, responder walking speed decreased to 4.3% above baseline.
Following re-initiation of therapy, responders showed an average
24.3% increase from the original baseline. This indicates that
responders can return to the level of walking improvement
experienced before interruption of therapy. The study also found
that the safety profile observed in the long-term extension trials
was consistent with that seen in double-blind clinical trials; no
new safety signals emerged in the open label extension.
Approximately 94% of participants who completed the
placebo-controlled clinical trials elected to enroll in the
extension study. Participants in the extension study were followed
for up to 3.5 years on therapy for this analysis.

Another analysis of AMPYRA clinical trial data indicated that the
FDA-approved dose of 10 mg taken twice daily is the optimal dose
for AMPYRA. Data showed that dosage strengths above of 10 mg twice
daily did not result in an increase in either responder rates or
change in walking speed among responders, but did increase overall
adverse events (AEs) and central nervous system AEs3. In a
placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial (MS-F202) that evaluated
the safety and efficacy of AMPYRA dosed at 10, 15 and 20 mg twice
daily, data showed that there was no statistically significant
difference in the proportion of patients who met the criteria for
AMPYRA Timed Walk responders across the three dosages relative to
placebo (35.3% for 10 mg; 36.0% for 15 mg; 38.6% for 20 mg; 8.5%
for placebo). The same study showed comparable changes between the
three twice daily dosages in terms of improvement of walking speed
among responders (27.6% for 10 mg; 29.6% for 15 mg; 24.6% for 20
mg). The overall rate of adverse events in the MS-F202 was higher
among patients receiving 15 and 20 mg twice daily compared to those
receiving 10 mg twice daily (86.5% for 10 mg; 94.0% for 15 mg;
91.2% for 20 mg; 80.9% placebo), as was the incidence of central
nervous system AEs (38.5% for 10 mg; 50.0% for 15 mg; 63.2% for 20
mg; 44.7% placebo). Additional data presented in this analysis
showed that improvements in the percent change in walking speed
were correlated to drug levels in the blood below the average
minimum level with the 10 mg dose, indicating that doses lower than
10 mg twice daily would not be expected to maintain therapeutic
plasma concentrations without more frequent dosing.

AMPYRA is marketed in the United States by Acorda Therapeutics,
Inc. It is approved in the Unites States as a treatment to improve
walking in people with MS. This was demonstrated by an increase in
walking speed. For more information, visit www.ampyra.com.

Important Safety Information

AMPYRA can cause seizures; the risk of seizures increases with
increasing AMPYRA doses. AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with
a prior history of seizure. Discontinue AMPYRA use if seizure
occurs.

AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with moderate or severe
renal impairment (CrClless-than or equal to 50 mL/min); the risk of
seizures in patients with mild renal impairment (CrCl 51-80 mL/min)
is unknown, but AMPYRA plasma levels in these patients may approach
those seen at a dose of 15 mg twice daily, a dose that may be
associated with an increased risk of seizures; estimated CrCl
should be known before initiating treatment with AMPYRA.

AMPYRA should not be taken with other forms of 4-aminopyridine
(4-AP, fampridine), since the active ingredient is the same.

The most common adverse events (incidence greater-than or equal
to 2% and at a rate greater than the placebo rate) for AMPYRA in MS
patients were urinary tract infection, insomnia, dizziness,
headache, nausea, asthenia, back pain, balance disorder, multiple
sclerosis relapse, paresthesia, nasopharyngitis, constipation,
dyspepsia, and pharyngolaryngeal pain.

For full U.S. Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for
AMPYRA, please visit: www.AMPYRA.com.

About AMPYRA (dalfampridine)

AMPYRA is a potassium channel blocker approved as a treatment to
improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was
demonstrated by an increase in walking speed. AMPYRA, which was
previously referred to as Fampridine-SR, is an extended release
tablet formulation of dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine, 4-AP), which
was previously called fampridine, and remains known by that name
outside the US. In laboratory studies, dalfampridine has been found
to improve impulse conduction in nerve fibers in which the
insulating layer, called myelin, has been damaged. AMPYRA is being
developed and commercialized in the United States by Acorda
Therapeutics, and by Biogen Idec in markets outside the U.S. based
on a licensing agreement with Acorda. AMPYRA is manufactured
globally by Elan based on a supply agreement with Acorda.

AMPYRA is now available by prescription in the United States.
For more information about AMPYRA, including patient assistance and
co-pay programs, healthcare professionals and people with MS can
contact AMPYRA Patient Support Services at 888-881-1918.

AMPYRA Patient Support Services is available Monday through
Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time at 888-881-1918.
For full U.S. Prescribing Information and Medication Guide, please
visit: www.AMPYRA.com.

About Acorda Therapeutics

Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing
therapies for multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and related
nervous system disorders. The Company is commercializing and
marketing AMPYRA(R) (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10
mg, in the Unites States. AMPYRA is a potassium channel blocker
approved as a treatment to improve walking in patients with
multiple sclerosis (MS); this was demonstrated by an improvement in
walking speed. AMPYRA was developed using Elan's Matrix Drug
Absorption System (MXDAS(R)) technology and is manufactured by Elan
based on a supply agreement with Acorda.

Acorda also markets ZANAFLEX CAPSULES(R) (tizanidine
hydrochloride), a short-acting drug for the management of
spasticity. The Company's pipeline includes a number of products in
development for the treatment, regeneration and repair of the
spinal cord and brain.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
regarding management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or
prospects should be considered forward-looking. These statements
are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially, including Acorda Therapeutics'
ability to successfully market and sell Ampyra in the United States
and to successfully market Zanaflex Capsules; third party payors
(including governmental agencies) may not reimburse for the use of
Ampyra at acceptable rates or at all and may impose restrictive
prior authorization requirements that limit or block prescriptions;
the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Ampyra; the
occurrence of adverse safety events with our products; delays in
obtaining or failure to obtain regulatory approval of Ampyra
outside of the United States and our dependence on our
collaboration partner Biogen Idec in connection therewith;
competition; failure to protect Acorda Therapeutics' intellectual
property or to defend against the intellectual property claims of
others; the ability to obtain additional financing to support
Acorda Therapeutics' operations; and, unfavorable results from our
preclinical programs. These and other risks are described in
greater detail in Acorda Therapeutics' filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Acorda Therapeutics may not actually
achieve the goals or plans described in its forward-looking
statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these
statements. Forward-looking statements made in this release are
made only as of the date hereof, and Acorda Therapeutics disclaims
any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements
as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press
release.

1Improvement in Walking Speed Across a Wide Range of Baseline
EDSS Scores and Walking Speeds From Trials of Dalfampridine
Extended Release Tablets in Patients with MS (P07.164) available
for viewing on April 14 from 2-6:30 p.m. HAST

2Change in Walking Speed in Transition From Double-Blind to
Open-Label Clinical Trials of Dalfampridine Extended Release
Tablets, 10 mg Twice Daily, in Patients With MS (P07.165) available
for viewing on April 14 from 2-6:30 p.m. HAST

3Doses of Dalfampridine Extended Release Tablets Greater Than 10
mg Twice Daily Are Associated With Increased Adverse Events but not
Increased Efficacy (P03.236) available for viewing on April 12 from
2-6:30 p.m. HAST